Roller skate



Oct. 15, 1940. MARSHALL 2,218,209

ROLLER SKATE Filed March 20, 1939 INVENTOR Jam zw/awzazz EMMA,

ATTO R N EYS Patented a. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLLER SKATE Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 262,864

2 Claims.

This invention relates to roller skates and more particularly to an improved heel plate therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved heel plate of sturdy construction, that is inexpensive to manufacture, and that lends itself to quantity production by tools of the type now employed in the manufacture of roller skates.

A further object of the invention is to strengthen the construction of the heel plate of a roller skate, particularly the construction of the rear flange to which the straps are attached. In carrying out my invention I provide ribs extending along the rear portion of the body of the heel plate and then upwardly along the rear flange.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this show- Fig. l is a perspective view of a heel plate of a roller skate illustrating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof; Fig. 3 is a front elevation; and Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view. Referring to the drawing the reference numeral l designates the body portion of the heel plate of a roller skate, the body portion being of any suitable shape and size. Adjacent each side it is provided with aligned slots 2 for the reception of the side plates of the rear truck hanger. These side plates (not shown) are of the usual construction provided with rivets on their upper surfaces which are adapted to be received in the slots to secure the side plates to the heel plate. The heel plate is further provided with an open- 5 ing 3 for the reception of a bolt which is adapted to pass through an elongated slot in the girder (not shown) to secure the heel plate to the toe plate of the skate and permit adjustment of the length of the skate. The body portion may also be provided with side flanges l. A rear flange 5 is secured to the body portion, being preferably made in one piece and stamped out of sheet metal and extends substantially at right angles thereto. This rear flange is provided with slots 6 for the reception of the ends of the straps by means of which the skate is secured to the shoe of the user.

In constructing a heel plate and rear flange of a single piece of metal with the rear flange curved in horizontal cross-section to fit the shoe of the user, it is necessary to cut away some of the metal of the skate at the points indicated by the reference numeral ID. If this material is not removed, 5

- the stock will wrinkle or crack when the flange 5 is folded at an angle to the base portion of the plate. The removal of this stock, however, weakens the flange and necessitates the use of some means for reinforcing it. In

For the purpose of strengthening the rear flange I provide the ribs which form the subject matter of the present invention. As shown I provide a rib 1 extending along the body portion at each side of the center and preferably at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the skate. At the rear edge of the body portion these ribs extend upwardly of the rear flange as indicated at 8, preferably at an angle to the vertical.

The provision of these ribs is a simple expedient 20 which lends itself to quantity production and very slightly increases the cost of manufacturing the heel plate but the presence of such ribs greatly strengthens the heel plate and prevents breakage or displacement of the angular position of the 25 rear flange 5 with respect to the body portion of the heel plate.

I claim:

1. A heel plate for roller skates comprising a body portion, a rear flange extending upwardly 30 therefrom, and ribs formed on the rear of the body portion at each side of the center extending rearwardly at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the skate and upwardly of the rear flange at an angle to the vertical. 35

2. A heel plate for roller skates formed of a single piece of metal and comprising a body portion and a rear flange extending upwardly therefrom, the flange being curved in cross section, part of the metal from which the heel plate is formed being cut away adjacent the lower side edges of the flange, and ribs formed on the rear of the body portion at each side of the center extending rearwardly at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the skate and upwardly of the rear flange at an angle to the Vertical.

JAMES E. MARSHALL. 

